The United States says it carried out a series of strikes in Syria targeting ISIS fighters, infrastructure and weapons sites, describing the operation as retaliation for a deadly attack on U.S. servicemembers earlier this month.
“This is not the beginning of a war — it is a declaration of vengeance,” Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth wrote on X. “The United States of America, under President Trump’s leadership, will never hesitate and never relent to defend our people.”
Why It Matters
An Islamic State (ISIS) gunman ambushed U.S. troops in Syria last week, killing three U.S. servicemembers—two Iowa National Guard soldiers and a civilian interpreter. The assault marked the first deadly attack on U.S. troops in Syria since the fall of President Bashar Assad.
The U.S. Army identified the soldiers as Sergeant Edgar Brian Torres Tovar, 25, of Des Moines, and Sergeant William Nathaniel Howard, 29, of Marshalltown. The interpreter was identified as Ayad Mansoor Sakat, 54, of Macomb Township, Michigan.
Syria’s interim government and its military forces have pledged to support U.S. efforts against the Islamic State militant group (ISIS). The U.S. had no diplomatic relations with Syria under Assad, but the Trump administration has sought closer ties, including hosting interim President Ahmad al-Sharaa in Washington last month.
What To Know
President Donald Trump and Hegseth confirmed the attack and the deaths last week, promising retaliation. On Friday, the U.S. announced roughly a dozen strikes against ISIS targets.
A U.S.-led coalition carried out the airstrikes and ground operations, with participation from Syria’s security forces, according to Reuters.
Hegseth praised the operation and said the U.S. would not allow the deaths of American servicemembers to go unanswered. He referred to the strikes as “OPERATION HAWKEYE STRIKE.”
“As we said directly following the savage attack, if you target Americans — anywhere in the world — you will spend the rest of your brief, anxious life knowing the United States will hunt you, find you, and ruthlessly kill you,” Hegseth continued.
“Today, we hunted and we killed our enemies. Lots of them. And we will continue,” he added.
Trump also posted about the strikes, saying Syria was “fully in support” of the U.S. action and praising al-Sharaa for “working very hard to bring Greatness back to Syria.”
What People Are Saying
President Donald Trump on Truth Social: “Because of ISIS’s vicious killing of brave American Patriots in Syria, whose beautiful souls I welcomed home to American soil earlier this week in a very dignified ceremony, I am hereby announcing that the United States is inflicting very serious retaliation, just as I promised, on the murderous terrorists responsible. We are striking very strongly against ISIS strongholds in Syria, a place soaked in blood which has many problems, but one that has a bright future if ISIS can be eradicated. The Government of Syria, led by a man who is working very hard to bring Greatness back to Syria, and is fully in support. All terrorists who are evil enough to attack Americans are hereby warned — YOU WILL BE HIT HARDER THAN YOU HAVE EVER BEEN HIT BEFORE IF YOU, IN ANY WAY, ATTACK OR THREATEN THE U.S.A.”
Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth on X, in part: “Earlier today, U.S. forces commenced OPERATION HAWKEYE STRIKE in Syria to eliminate ISIS fighters, infrastructure, and weapons sites in direct response to the attack on U.S. forces that occurred on December 13th in Palmyra, Syria.
“This is not the beginning of a war — it is a declaration of vengeance. The United States of America, under President Trump’s leadership, will never hesitate and never relent to defend our people,” he added.
U.S. Central Command on X, in part: “U.S. forces have commenced a large-scale strike against ISIS infrastructure and weapons sites in Syria. This massive strike follows the attack on U.S. and partner forces in Syria on Dec. 13. We will provide additional information soon.”
